Influence of Movies

Movies are a wonderful part of modern life.  They let us go places, see and experience new and different things, and they're cheaper and more convenient in many ways than live theater.  Movies are one of the most influencial types of media.  They have a profound influence on peoples' attitudes, habits, and behaviors.  This can be a good or a bad thing when it comes to forming healthy relationships.  Movie watchers have to take responsibility for examining the relationship content of movies and deciding whether or not they truly want to emulate what they see.

Below is a list of movies which highlight healthy aspects of various types of relationships.  If you wish to comment on any of the movies posted or suggest more movies, please contact on Facebook or Twitter.

 
(The titles are hyperlinks to the IMDB pages, the posters are hyperlinks to the trailers.)
 
2.) 2 Weeks Notice - 2002
 
 

4.) About A Boy - 2002

5.) After Sex - 2007
 

6.) All Of Me - 1984

7.) American Splendor - 2003
 
8.) Annie Hall - 1977
 
9.) Baby Mama - 2006
 
10.) Bonneville - 2006
 
 
12.) Chocolat - 2000
 
13.) City of Angels - 1998
 
14.) Clueless -1995
 
15.) Crash - 2004
 
16.) Easy A - 2010
 
 
18.) Father of the Bride - 1991
 
 
a Funeral - 1994
 
 
22.) Ghost - 1990
 
 
24.) Harold & Maude - 1971
 
25.) High Fidelity - 2000
 
26.) Hilary & Jackie - 1998
 
27.) I Love You, Man - 2009
 

28.) Impromptu - 1991

29.) In America - 2003
 
30.) In Good Company - 2004
 
31.) Independence Day - 1996*
 

32.) It's A Wonderful Life - 1946

33.) Julie and Julia - 2006

34.) Juno - 2007

35.) Jurassic Park - 1993**

36.) Keeping the Faith - 2000

37.) Letter to Brezhnev - 1985

38.) Life Is Beautiful - 1997

39.) Like Water for Chocolate/ Como Agua Para Chocolate -1992

40.) Little Fockers - 2010

41.) Lonesome Dove - 1989

42.) Love, Actually - 2003

43.) Love, Wedding, Marriage - 2011

44.) Meet the Fockers - 2004
 
45.) Meet the Parents - 2000
 
 
47.) Monsoon Wedding - 2001
 
48.) Moonstruck - 1987
 
 
 
 
52.) Notting Hill - 1999
 
53.) Oklahoma - 1955
 
54.) On Golden Pond - 1981
 
55.) Ordinary People - 1981
 
56.) Parenthood - 1989
 
57.) Pillow Talk - 1959
 
 
59.) Possession - 2002
 
60.) Pride and Prejudice - 2005
 
61.) Prime - 2005
 
62.) PS, I Love You - 2007
 
63.) Rebecca - 1940
 
64.) Rent - 2005
 
65.) Saved - 2004
 
66.) Shadowlands - 1993
 
67.) Shakespeare In Love - 1998
 
68.) Shall We Dance? - 2004
 
69.) She's the Man - 2006
 
70.) Shine - 1996
 
71.) Sideways - 2004
 
72.) Soul Food - 1997
 
73.) South  Pacific - 1958
 
74.) Steel Magnolias - 1989
 
75.) Step Mom - 1998
 
 
77.) Terms of Endearment - 1983
 
 
79.) The American President -  1995
 
 
81.) The Evening Star - 1996
 
82.) The Fisher King -1991
 
83.) The Holiday - 2006
 
84.) The January Man - 1989
 
 
86.) The Savages - 2007
 
87.) The Story of Us - 1999
 
 
89.) The Way We Were - 1973
 
 
 
 
93.) Tootsie - 1982
 
 
 
96.) Up - 2009
 
97.) What A Girl Wants - 2003
 
 
 
100.) You've Got Mail - 1998
 
*We included Independence Day because the relationship between Captain Steven Hiller and Jasmine Dubrow is remarkably healthy despite the stresses put on their relationship by their respective jobs and the situation.  As always, this point is open to debate.  Feel free to post on our Facebook page if you wish.
** We Included Jurrasic Park because of the relationships between Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Slatter and between John Hammond and his grandchildren.  Like Independence Day we hope that Jurrasic Park demonstrates that even action movies can highlight healthy relationships without compromising their integrity.
These movies are arranged alphabetically by title, their order does not reflect any preference to lyrics, artists, or styles.

Most writers, actors, and directors featured had multiple healthy relationship movies, but we had to limit the length of the list.